Reading Pride 2016

On Saturday 03 September the University of Reading had it’s first official presence at Reading Pride. The University’s involvement was jointed led by our network, the Deans of Diversity and Inclusion and RUSU. We marched in the Parade with the University’s banner and had a prominent stall in the marketplace where we distributed branded flags, events diaries and prospectuses.

The rain held off throughout the parade and we marched throughout the town on the new parade route and managed to keep hold of our banner despite the wind!

Marching in the parade

We made it back to the field shortly after noon to the University’s stand where we spent an enjoyable few hours chatting to other Pride goers and distributing goodies – the flags were very popular and it was great to see colleagues from around the University pop by for a visit throughout the day. Thanks to Reading Pride for finding us an appropriately coloured shelter!

The University stand at Pride

The University’s Pride pop-up banner

In addition to RUSU’s LGBT history timeline banner, the University also developed a Pride pop-up banner to publicly show its commitment to LGBT+ inclusion.

Even the weather and a faulty gazebo couldn’t damped our spirits throughout the day (despite it’s best efforts!) even if it did threaten to blow our shelter away on several occasions!

Putting banners up and holding the gazebo down

Emergency repair job on our poor gazebo after one leg refused to come out

After the rain set in and the gazebo collapsed we retreated to a local pub (from reading Pride to London Pride?!) for a brief wash-up meeting: the overall feeling was one of success and having established something to build on for the University’s involvement in Reading Pride 2017.